Klub Sportowy Unia Oświęcim is a Polish professional ice hockey club based in Oświęcim, Poland. They play in the Polska Hokej Liga, the top-level ice hockey league in Poland. The team's colors are blue and white.[1]

KS Unia Oświęcim
CityOświęcim, Poland
LeaguePolska Hokej Liga
Founded11 December 1946 (club)
1957 (ice hockey section)
Home arenaHala Lodowa Oświęcim
ColoursBlue, white
   
General managerMariusz Sibik
Head coachNik Zupančič
Websiteunia-oswiecim.pl
Franchise history
1957–1999KS Unia Oświęcim
1999–2006Dwory Unia Oświęcim
2006–2009TH Unia Oświęcim
2009–2014Aksam Unia Oświęcim
2014–2015TH Unia Oświęcim

History

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The club was created in 1946, with the ice hockey section being created in 1957. From 1957 to 1999 it was called KS Unia Oświęcim, and from 1999 to 2006, Dwory Unia Oświęcim. Their home ice is the Hala Lodowa MOSiR which can holds 3,500 people.

In June 2020, Eliezer Sherbatov, captain of Israel national team, signed a one-year contract with the team, which plays just a short walk from the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where one million Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust.[2] Sherbatov said, "I have a great deal of motivation because it is Auschwitz. I want to win the championship, the Polish Cup and the continental title, and then everyone will know the one who did this is a Jewish–Israeli."[2] His father told him "to work hard, to show his lion’s heart, and to be proud of Israel and show people we are still alive."[3]

Players

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Achievements

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  • Polish Championship:
    • Champions (9): 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2024
    • Runners-up (9): 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2020, 2022
    • 3rd place (3): 2011, 2012, 2023
  • Polish Cup:
    • Winners (2): 2000, 2002

Season-by-season

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Season League Playoff Rank
1990–91 I liga 2
1991–92 I liga Playoff champions
1992–93 I liga 2
1993–94 I liga 2
1994–95 I liga 2
1995–96 I liga 2
1996–97 I liga 2
1997–98 I liga Playoff champions
1998–99 I liga Playoff champions
1999–2000 PLH Playoff champions
2000–01 PLH Playoff champions
2001–02 PLH Playoff champions
2002–03 PLH Playoff champions
2003–04 PLH Playoff champions
2004–05 PLH 2
2005–06 PLH 4
2006–07 PLH 7
2007–08 PLH 10 (relegated)
2008–09 I liga 1 (promoted)
2009–10 PLH 6
2010–11 PLH 3
2011–12 PLH 3
2012–13 PLH 6
2013–14 PHL 4
2014–15 PHL 6

References

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  1. ^ "Re-Plast Unia"
  2. ^ a b Cramer, Philissa (10 August 2020). "Israeli ice hockey star signs to play in Oswiecim, otherwise known as Auschwitz". Times of Israel.
  3. ^ Marty Klinkenberg (August 21, 2020). "Israeli-Canadian Eliezer Sherbatov on his Jewish heritage and playing hockey in Poland". The Globe and Mail.
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